The 1964 Indy 500--End of An Era

50 years ago this weekend the ’64 Indy 500 definitely marked the end of an era, mainly for being the last year a front-engine roadster would win. But it was also the beginning of calls for ending what some called the “senseless spectacle” in the aftermath of so many drivers being killed, and the possibility of the same fate for spectators.

2/9The '64 Indy 500 gets off to a great start, until Lap 2.

Change was in the May air at Indy. Scotsman Jim Clark in his green Lotus had been the fastest all month. It was part of the new breed of rear-engine, fragile-looking cars imitating European Formula I designs. There was also an attempt by Ford to supplant the Offy engine that had dominated Indycar racing since before WWII. Tires had gained noticeable width and lower profiles from previous years, too.

Of course tragedy always seems to factor into the 500, and that would come right at the beginning on Lap 2 when rookie Dave MacDonald driving for Mickey Thompson slammed into Turn Four, exploding as the car bounced back across the track. Veteran driver Eddie Sachs hit MacDonald’s car causing a second explosion. Flaming tires, wheels, and the inferno smoke sailed into the grandstands—it was a chaotic calamity.

After an almost two-hour delay the race resumed—the tradition had to go on. AJ Foyt won his second 500 that year. The next year only six of the 33-car field was roadsters, and Jimmy Clark won in a Lotus 38 powered by Ford. He led virtually the entire race. And in spite of the calls for ending the Indy 500 after Macdonald and Sach’s deaths, 1965 was the first year the Indy 500 was televised.